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Coordinating Minister for Politics, Law and Security: Ban on Sydney Jones from Entering Indonesia Not Permanent
Monday, 28 November, 2005 | 23:56 WIB

TEMPO Interactive, Jakarta:Indonesian Coordinating Minister for Politics, Law and Security Widodo AS has said that the ban on Sydney Jones from entering Indonesia was not permanent.

“At the right time, if there is an evaluation on realistic development as regards Sydney Jones, we can carry out further policy development,” stated Widodo during a consultation meeting between members of his ministerial staff and the House of Representatives (DPR) Commission I on Monday (28/11).

According to the Coordinating Minister, his ministry has received input from one of the government’s representatives abroad regarding the attitude of Sydney Jones.

The ban on Jones from entering Indonesia was included in a meeting of first echelon officials at the Office of the Coordinating Minister for Politics, Law and Security.

On November 24, Sydney Jones, the project director of the International Crisis Group (ICG) for Southeast Asia, was refused entry to Indonesia when she arrived at Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta airport.

At the time, Jones said that she possessed working and stay permits.

However, without giving any clear reason, the passport verification officer asked Jones, considered to be an expert on the Jemaah Islamiyah organization, to return to Singapore.

A.S. Hikam, a member of DPR Commission I, asked about this during the meeting with Widodo.

Hikam said he considered this to be a very sensitive matter and had to be explained to Jones so that it would not expand into an international affair.

He went on to say that the most important thing was not only returning Sydney Jones’ status.

“The important thing was to explain why she received such treatment,” stated Hikam.
(Fanny Febiana-Tempo News Room)